Fire-cracker cannon



(Model.)

J. JQLOUD..

PIRE GRACKER CANNON.

N. 385,127. Patented June 26, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orifice.

JOHN J. LOUD, OF VEYMOUTI-I, MASSACHUSETTS.

FIRE-CRACKER CANNON.

SPECIFICATION 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,127, dated June 26, 1888.

(Model.)

fo @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN J. LOUD, a citizen of the United States, residing at /Veymouth, in the county of Norfolk and Oommonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cannons, of which the following is a full specification.

My invention consists of an improved breech-loading cannon adapted for firing cartridges ignited by a fuse inseparably connected therewith. I preferably use for my cartridge the ordinary fire-cracker, and the cannon being adapted for the purpose herein set forth is so constructed as to be perfectly safe for children and careless persons to whom accidents frequently occur in using fire arms. The construction of my cannon is such that a cartridge provided with a fuse may readily be inserted at the breech and the fuse placed in position for firing the same without threading it through any hole. Moreover, the cannon is so constructed as to fold compactly, thereby greatly reducing its bulk for transportation.

Figure 1 is a side .view of my improved cannon closed ready for firing. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the axis of the barrel, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of the cannon open for loading.

I preferably make my improved cannon in two main pieces, one of which, B, consists of the barrel rigidly secured thereto or integral with the cheeks or forward portion of the carriage, while the other portion consists of the breech-block A, rigidly secured to or integral with the stock A', the breech-block and stock being hinged at C to the cheeks of the carriage in such a manner that the breech is closed automatically when the cannon is placed on its base for firing; or, when desired, the stock may be folded under the carriage, as hereinafter explained.

The barrel of the cannon is thus divided into two portions, A and B, by a plane which passes through the Vent or touch-hole a, through which 'passes the fuse of the cracker.

I may employ for the vent a slot or semicircular hole in either the forward or the so that when closed together au opening for the fuse of the cartridge is formed; or the upper half of the forward portion of the barrel may be beveled or cut away, preferably by a perpendicular eut from the top of the barrel down. to a horizontal line through the center of the bore, as shown in the drawings, thereby allowing the fuse j' of the cracker F to protrude either vertically or at an angle when the cannon is closed. The use of an enlarged vent ofthe peculiar form last described, and illustrated in the drawings, is twofold. In the first place it provides an ample supply of air for the burning of the fuse, which, were the vent circular, might cease to burn as soon as the hole is reached, and, secondly, no care is required in adjusting the cartridge-fuse along a groove, as would be necessary in case of a circular vent to prevent crushing of the fuse when the breech closes; but With this vent the fuse may protrude at any angle. In any case the plane of division of the twoparts of the barrel is through the vent.

The breech-block of the barrel is preferably provided With the boss a', which, when the parts are closed together, serves to push the cartridge or cracker slightly forward and partially close the bore of the barrel, thereby guarding against the tendency of sparks, tc., to escape from the vent when the cartridge explodes.

rIhe under side of the carriage is beveled at Bf, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to allow the stock A to fold clear back between the wheels of the carriage. In this manner the bulk of the cannon is reduced nearly half, so that it may fit into a boX but little more than half the size necessary to contain it when in position for firing, the folding being done Without taking the cannon apart or in any Way untting it for instant use. These cannon may thus be very compactly packed for transportation.

1. In a breech-loading cannon, a barrel provided at the breech with a wide vent cut across the whole face of the end of the barrel or of the breech-block above the center, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a breech-loading cannon, a barrel provided with the widevent a,cut across the whole face of the end of the barrel, in combination tween the wheel with a, breech-bloek provided with a boss, a', snbstantiallyas and for the pnposes described.

substantially asand for the purposes described. In Witness WhereofI have hereunto set my 3. A breech-loading cannon provided with hand.

a split vent and consisting of a barrel rigidly s, thereby reducing` the bulk7 ro securedto thecarriage-cheeks, in combination l JOHN J' LOUD' with a breech-block hinged to said cheeks qWitnesses: and a stock rigidly secured to said breech- WM. B. H. DOWSE,

blocl:,\vl1ereby the stock may be folded be- ALBERT E. LEACH. 

